Priti Patel profile: a savvy campaigner who craved the biggest job of all

On paper, at least, Priti Patel had everything necessary to rise to the top of the Conservative ministerial ladder.

As the daughter of Ugandan Asians who fled Idi Amin she had a compelling backstory. Her family arrived penniless in Britain to build a new life. Starting with a single shop in Tottenham, her father built a successful retail business.

Politically, Ms Patel, 45, had impeccable right-wing credentials. Always a Eurosceptic, she played a leading role in the EU referendum campaign. The success of Vote Leave, and her role in it, guaranteed her a place in Theresa May’s cabinet with the likelihood of further promotion.

As a former press officer for William Hague she also understood the media and was adroit at cultivating her own image